Wardrobe case



Aug. 16, 1938. A- BURGER 2,126,986

WARDROBE CASE Filed De. '28, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l Aug.. 16, 1938. A. BURGER 2,126,986

WARDROBE CASE Filed uw. 28, 193i s sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR ug 16, 1938. i A BURGER I I 2,126,986

WARDROBE CASE Filed Dec. 28, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 16, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-ice 4 Claims.

This invention relates to luggage and particularly to wardrobe cases in which a clothes rack is adapted to be folded into and supported by the case or to be held upright thereby for hanging clothes upon or removing them from the rack. The invention also relates to clothes racks adapted for use in wardrobe cases. More particularly the invention relates to Wardrobe cases in which a clothes rack is adapted to be held rigidly in upright position for placing or removal of clothes thereon and at the same time may be readily pivoted to a horizontal position and/or to an inverted position in the cover of the case.

One object of my invention is to provide ttings for wardrobe cases which are extremely simple and inexpensive as compared with others in use before my inventionv and which will be easier to use and entirely out of the Way when not in use.

Another object of my invention is to provide wardrobe cases having racks upon which clothes may be hung more easily than they could be packed in an ordinary suitcase, can be kept in better condition when packed and can be readily removed and hung up when the case is opened without unpacking the entire case.

Another object of my invention is to provide a wardrobe case in which a clothes rack may be held securely in upright position for packing or in a position longitudinal of the case when it has been packed and closed, and can be removed entirely for hanging in a closet or elsewhere.

Another object is to provide a wardrobe case in which the rack is mounted so that it is inverted in shifting from the position for packing to the position for carrying and has means for folding the skirts smoothly during this inversion.

In the accompanying drawings I have given several illustrations of my invention and suggested certain modiiications thereof. These are not intended to be exhaustive and should not be taken as limiting of the invention but are given rather with a view to illustrating and explaining the invention and principles thereof so that others skilled in the art may utilize my invention in numerous forms and varying embodiments according to the requirements of each particular use.

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a wardrobe case embodying my invention with the clothes rack in upright position ready for placing or removal of clothes therefrom.

Fig. 2 is a cross section of the same embodiment as shown in Fig. 1, but with the clothes rack in a horizontal position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional View similar to Fig. 2 but with the clothes rack inverted into the cover of the case and with the curtain placed over the rack.

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of a bracket which may be used instead of that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View partially broken away of another case embodying my invention in a different form.

Fig. 6 is a view in cross section of the embodiment shown in Fig. 5 but with the clothing rack in the process of `loeing inverted into the cover of the case.

Fig. 'l is a perspective View of still another embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 8 is a View in elevation of the bracket used in Figs. 1 to 3.

Fig. 9 is a section along line 9 9 in Fig. 8.

Referring iirst to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, I have shown a case consisting of a box Ill having a cover II hinged thereto. A clothing rack I2 is shown mounted in upright position in the brackets I3.

This clothes rack I2 may be a simple frame having at its top any suitable means, e. g., the folding rails I4, I5 for holding clothes hangers I5 and at its bottom a cross bar Il adapted to hold the skirts of garments which are hung on the hangers IB and to fold them smoothly when the rack is inverted into the cover .as will hereafter be described.

The particular construction of this rack I2 is not essential to my invention in' its broader f aspects. As shown, the cross bar I8 is made U shape so that its perpendicular ends form rails under which the ends I9 of the hanger I6 engage to lock the hangers against removal when they are on the rails I4. Each rail I4 is secured at one end to the cross bar I8 and near its other end to the bracket 2li. The rail members I5 are pivoted to the rail members I4 an-d their inner ends extend beyond the pivot and are rounded or pointed so as to snap into the grooves 1 2| in the end of the cross bar I8. Thus the rail members I5 when folded to a perpendicular position are latched in that position and serve to lock the hangers I6 in place on the rails I4.

At Athe bottom ends of the frame I2 are studs 25 and 26 adapted to engage in the bracket I3 (best shown in Figs. 2 and 3). A stud 25 engages in the upperrvertical slot of the bracket I3 and serves as a bearing and pivot upon which the rack I2 is supported in the position shown in Figs.

1 and 2 and upon which it may be swung from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2. 'Ihe stud 26 engages the bracket I3 in the lower slot 21 which is substantially horizontal or longitudinal with the bottom of the case. The bottom of this slot as shown has a depression in which the stud 26 engages to lock the rack in upright position.

At the corners of the cross bar I8 are other studs 28 which engage in the slot 29 ofthe bracket 3D secured in the cover near the hinge edge thereof. These studs also serve as pivots upon which the rack is swung from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3.

Brackets 3| having spring latches associated therewith are secured near the opposite ends of the cover and engage the projection 32 on the rack I2 to hold it in position in the cover.

A curtain 34 is secured to the front of the cover and at its bottom is provided with snap fasteners adapted to be secured to the snaps 36 on the cross bar I8, whereby this curtain may be drawn over the rack I2 and the clothes hung thereon when the rack is positioned in the cover. This is shown in Fig. 3.

In the use of this case the cover 34 is rst thrown back out of the way as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The rack I2 isthen pulled down from the cover to the position shown in Fig. 2, where it rests upon the four studs 28 and 25 in the slots of the brackets 30 and I3. The top of the rack is then lifted from the bracket 30 to the upright position shown in Fig. 1, whereupon the studs 26 enter the slots 21 and, as the rack reaches the upright position, fall into the depressions or notches in the bottoms of the slots and thus lock the rack in its upright position. The rails I5 are then folded out to the position shown in Fig. 1, and the hangers I6 may be pulled out onto these rails and removed if desired. When the clothes are put upon the hangers the hangers will be pushed back onto the rail I4 the rail member I 5 then swung inwardly to the perpendicular position in which they are held by means of the grooves 2|. The rack I2 is lifted suiciently to raise the studs 26 out of the depressions in the slots 21 and is then swung back to the position shown in Fig. 2. In this position the clothes, as represented by the dress 31 will extend smoothly from the hanger I 5 over the cross bar I 1 and over the iront edge of the box I0. The bottom of the rack I2 is then lifted from the position shown in Fig. 2 into the top, i. e., to the position shown in Fig. 3. As this is done the skirts of the clothing fold naturally and smoothly across thecross bar I1 and fall on the back of the rack I2. The rack is nally snapped into the bracket 3| and the curtain 34 is drawn down over the rack and secured in place by the snap fasteners 35 and 36.

The bracket I3 is particularly important in this example. It is small and o ut of the way when the case is being packed; it will not catch the clothes; and it is extremely inexpensive; yet it serves efliciently to lock the rack in the case in an upright position and it serves as a bearing for the pivoting of the rack to its horizontal position. The lower slot 21 by engaging the stud 26 locks the rack against vertical movement and the notch in its bottom engages the stud to lock the rack against pivotal movement. Yet when the rack is lifted to bring the stud 26 against the top of the slot 21 it is easily pivoted on the stud 25 and thus lowered to a horizontal position in which the stud 26 is automatically released from the slot 21. 'v

This bracket I3 is not limited to the particular form shown in these figures, but may be substantially varied, e. g., as shown in Fig. 4.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5

and 6 the box I0 and the cover I I are substantially the same as those shown in the figures already discussed. The frame I2a is also similar to the frame I2. In this case, however, instead of the upper cross bar I8 a somewhat different cross bar I8a is provided and instead of the rails I4 the U-shaped rails I 4&1l are provided, theiree ends of which serve to engage the ends I 9a of the hangers I6a to lock them in place in a manner similar to that achieved by the perpendicular ends of the cross bar I8 in Fig. 1. The rail members |5a are pivoted on the members |4a and, as in Fig. 1, these serve to lock the hangers I6a in position. In this case the slotted heads 23u.v snap over the rail |8a to latch the rails I5a in this perpendicular position. In this embodiment of theinvention, however, a supplementary frame 40 takes the place of the upper studs 28, the lower studs 26 and the slots 21 and 2S all shownA in Fig.- 1, in that is provides both for locking the clothes rack in the upright position and for pivoting ythe rack when it is inverted into the cover..v This supplemental frame 40 Ais pivoted to the rack I2a at its upper end at 4| and the opposite end of the supplemental frame is pivoted yin the cover at 42. One of these pivots, preferably the pivot 42, is removable, e. g., by iiexing the ends of the frame 40. over the pivot studs on which they swing. Thus the entire frame can be `removed from the case for hanging in a closet, etc., as in the case illustrated in Fig. 1. i

In theuse of this case as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the rack |20, is released from the latch 3Ia in the cover and is swung out to the position shown in Fig. 1 whereinthe studs brackets 13a.. In this position the upper end of the rack |211. istheldbythe frame 4 0 rigidly against falling in either direction. The arms I5a are swung out and the hangers removed and used lexactly the same as already described in connection with Fig. 1. When the clothing is in place the hangers I6a are put back onto the rails |4a, the members I5a are swung to the perpendicularpolsitionA and snapped over the rail IBa and finally the studs. 25 are lifted out of the brackets I3a. and the rack |20, is swung to the inverted position and latched in the cover by means of thelatch 3Ia. Fig. 6 shows the rack in the act of being swung into the cover. As shown in this figure theskirts of the clothing on the rack fall smoothly over the cross bar Ila as has already been described with Figs. l to 3 and fall down over the back of the rack I2a. With the Irackplaced yin the cover the curtain 34 is drawn down over the rackvand secured by means 0f the snap fasteners 35, 3.6.

In Fig. 4, I have shown a bracket I3b which may be used in place of the bracket I3 shown in Figs. 1 to 3. In this case a right angled slot is provided and the bracket is used with a broad flat stud 25hshown in cross section in this figure. This stud, e. g., vas shown in Fig. 7 may be an extension of the cross bar |10. With the rack I2 in the position shown in Fig. 2 the studs 25h will lie in the broad shallow portion of the slots. When the rack is swung to upright position, however, the studs will fallinto the vertical portion of the slots and there will hold the rack rigidly against falling in either direction. The h ook 44 serves as a'stop to vkeep the stud-2512 from pulling Y25 are held in the entirely away from the bracket I3b when the rack is lifted to release the stud from the vertical slot.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a Gladstone type of case. In this case since the cover is normally used for packing it is not practicable to fol-d the clothes rack into the cover as in the other case shown. In this case, therefore, brackets 30C are provided at the back of the box portion lllc and brackets |31) are provided near the front exactly as in the case illustrated in Fig. 1. The clothes are hung onto the hangers and the hangers mounted on the rack |2c while the rack is in the upright position shown in Fig. 7. When they are thus in place and suitably locked the rack is lifted to release it and swung back to the horizontal position, after which the front end is lifted to fold the skirt under the cross bar llc and is then dropped again into the bracket |31?. The flexible partition or cover 34e is then brought down over the rack and secured in place by the snap fasteners 35e, 36C.

The rack |2c used in this case is again somewhat different from those shown in the other cases. I-Iere as before, however, the particular form is not essentially dependent upon the other features discussed and the special features of each of these racks might be used interchangeably. In this case the rack is particularly designed for holding mens clothes rather than womens clothes as are the racks illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5. The upper cross bar I8c in this case forms a clothes loop and instead of supporting the hangers l6c on side rails they are hung directly upon the cross bar I8c. A depression 45 is formed in the center of each side of the cross bars l8c and adjacent the depression is a gate slide 4B, the motion of which is limited by the stud 41 acting in the slot 48.

To place or remove one of the hangers lBc the slide 46 is drawn back away from the depression 45 and the hook 49 of the hanger Hic is placed in or removed from the depression. After the hanger is placed and the rack is otherwise ready for folding down into the case the slide 46 is moved so as to extend across the depression 45 and lock the hook 49 therein.

With these cases and racks embodying my invention as described above or in any of the numerous forms in which my invention may be embodied clothes may be packed easily and eX- peditiously and are kept fresh and are protected against crushing and the racks are held securely while they are in use.

What I claim is:

l. A wardrobe case comprising a bottom portion, a cover hinged thereon and a. clothes rack adapted to fit into the cover with clothes folded thereon and to hold the clothes hanging therefrom when it is held upright, studs on the sides of the rack near its top, adapted to hold the top end of the rack in the back of the cover, studs on the sides of the rack near its bottom adapted to hold it in the front of the bottom portion and a latching stud near at least one of the studs at the bottom of the rack; brackets in the cover at opposite sides near each of its four corners adapted to position the rack in the cover, the brackets near the hinge being slotted in a direction longitudinal of the cover so that with the cover open the studs may be inserted downwardly therein and the brackets near the front of the cover having spring latch members to hold the rack removably therein, and brackets near the front of said bottom portion having slots transverse to the bottom adapted to receive the studs near the bottom of the rack and at least one of said brackets on the bottom portion having a second slot transverse to the first and with a notch in its bottom adapted to receive the latching stud and thereby to hold the rack in upright position against collapsing in either direction.

2. A wardrobe case comprising a bottom portion and a cover hinged thereon, a clothes rack having a stud at each side near the top thereof, and a bearing stud on each side of the rack near the bottom thereof, and an auxiliary stud on the side of the rack near the bottom thereof spaced a short distance from one of the bearing studs near the bottom, a bracket on the cover at each side near its hinge end, slotted longitudinally of the cover for reception and removal of one of the studs at the top of the rack, a bracket near at least one side of the opposite en-d of the cover adapted to hold the rack in the cover, a bracket on the bottom portion near the front at each side thereof, each having a slot transverse and at least one having another slot longitudinal of the bottom, said longitudinal slot being notched on its bottom side to latch the auxiliary stud therein by gravity.

3. A clothes rack for a wardrobe case comprising a frame, clothes hangers carried at the top of said frame, a stud at each side of the frame near the bottom thereof, another stud at at least one side of the frame near but spaced from the first-named stud and brackets for supporting saidrack positioned to engage said studs, each having a slot into which the first-named studs may be inserted and adapted to position said studs against horizontal lateral movement and at least one of said brackets having another slot adapted to receive said other stud and to position it against horizontal lateral movement.

4. A clothes rack as defined in claim 3 in which one slot is vertical and the other horizontal with a notch in its bottom and its entrance spaced from the bottom of the first by a distance equal to the spacing of the studs whereby when one stud is positioned in a vertical slot the rack may be rotated about that stud as a pivot to bring the other stud into its slot and eventually to engage it in its notch.

ARTHUR BURGER. 

